Destined To Be A Classic: The Flaming Lips- The Soft Bulletin(1999)

The crazed genius of the Lips comes to full flower on the sonically massive and majestic The Soft Bulletin. Head Lip Wayne Coyne compounds the band's penchant for psychedelic freak-outs with a symphonic extravaganza. The result is nothing short of magnificent, not only the best rock album of the year, but among the best recordings of the decade. In 30 years, your grandkids are going to think you're pretty damned cool for having The Soft Bulletin in your collection. -Tod Nelson
key tracks: Race For The Prize, Waiting for Superman
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Destined To Be A Classic: Antony and the Johnsons- I Am a Bird Now(2006)

It’s not often that an album released in January gets called one of the best of the year in near-unison, but the second full length by Antony and the Johnsons is so startlingly beautiful that it simply has to be. Like his friend and compatriot Devendra Banhart, Antony is a super-talented singer-songwriter with a flair for dramatic artsong. But the cherubic Antony is so original he must get mistaken for an alien quite often; he sings like a bluesy opera singer and switches timbre from masculine to feminine in the space of a breath. The only vocal comparison that comes close is Nina Simone. Antony’s honest lyrics deal with deep wounds and troubled desires with matter of fact poetry and subtle humor, as in a short story by JT LeRoy. Aided and abetted by a versatile band that’s often closer to chamber orchestra than rock act, Antony delivers a visionary album with I Am A Bird Now. Oh yeah: Rufus Wainwright, Devendra, Lou Reed and Boy George all appear on here, too. -Mike McGonigal
key tracks: Hope Theres Someone, My Lady Story

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Destined To Be A Classic: Gonzales- Solo Piano(2004)

Minimal, sparse, and beautiful, Solo Piano is unlike anything else I’m listening to right now. Canadian-born musician, producer, and rapper Gonzales has worked with everyone from Jane Birkin, to Daft Punk, to ex-label mate Peaches. Critics compared him to Eminem, Prince, and Beck when his debut record, Gonzales Uber Alles, came out with a bang in 2000. That being said, this one might throw you for a loop if you’re familiar with his old work. Nowhere in this record does he come close to fitting that description. As the title suggests, this record is 16 tracks of stripped down piano compositions. When I say stripped down, I mean there are no lyrics and no additional instruments. The finished product sounds more like a moving soundtrack than anything else. Definitely check this one out and keep an eye on this guy, he’s got some good stuff going on.

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